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SPOILER ALERT: This article contains significant plot details for Season 2, Episode 9 of “Severance,” currently available for streaming on Apple TV+.

The series “Severance” is renowned for its meticulously crafted visual aesthetic, which is most prominently showcased within the monitored corridors of Lumon. The institutional strength of Lumon is deeply rooted in its ability to enforce the philosophies of its founder, Kier Eagan. This results in a profound commitment to a mythology that intricately intertwines corporate culture with elements of religion and personal belief, creating a unique atmosphere for its employees.

Lumon effectively communicates the beliefs and values of the Eagan family primarily through visual art. According to Catherine Miller, the show’s prop master since the inaugural season, the intentional use of art to canonize Lumon’s narrative was always a critical element. This artistic approach allows viewers to grasp the underlying themes of the show, as it visually narrates the company’s ethos and history.

Artistic elements permeate “Severance,” from the O&D work and wax figures in the Perpetuity Wing that chronicle the Eagan legacy, to the animation portraying the innies’ uprising that opens Season 2. Lumon strategically employs visuals to shape its identity for the innies, whose fragmented memories inhibit their comprehension of life outside the office environment, thus enhancing their disconnection from reality.

Miller insists that “every artistic decision is deliberate,” emphasizing that no element is haphazardly placed within Lumon’s visual landscape. The meticulous planning ensures that each piece of art aligns with the overall narrative and thematic goals of the series, contributing to a cohesive storytelling experience.

“All creative choices stem from our shared understanding of Lumon’s company history, its objectives, and the frameworks it operates within,” Miller explains. “We constantly hold each other accountable to maintain fidelity to the core concept of the company, ensuring that every artistic expression contributes to Lumon’s overarching mission.”

The artisans engage in collaborative discussions with creator Dan Erickson and executive producer/director Ben Stiller to transform conceptual art from the script into visual pieces that resonate with the show’s vision, according to set decorator David Schlesinger, who joined “Severance” for Season 2.

Miller and Schlesinger recently shared insights with Variety, unpacking some of the key artworks featured in Episode 9 and how they enhance Lumon’s overall representation.

Explore the Symbolism Behind “Kier Pardons His Betrayers”

The striking painting titled “Kier Pardons His Betrayers” welcomes the innies in Season 2. Centrally positioned by the elevator bank, this dramatic portrayal of Kier Eagan extending mercy to four figures metaphorically represents the refiners — Mark (Adam Scott), Helly (Britt Lower), Irving (John Turturro), and Dylan (Zach Cherry) — who find themselves ensnared in a precarious situation after employing the Overtime Contingency at the end of Season 1, as Miller elaborates.

This artwork symbolizes “a moment of forgiveness” in which Lumon conveys to the refiners that “Kier forgives you for your past actions,” Miller explains. “It carries a dual meaning; while it appears forgiving at first glance, it may also serve as a subtle warning that perhaps future transgressions will not be met with the same leniency.”

Created by artist Danny Aviles, the painting draws inspiration from Soviet-era propaganda art. The architectural elements in the background reference the Salt’s Neck-based ether factory where Harmony Cobel worked in her youth, a fact revealed in Episode 8, enhancing the narrative depth of the piece.

Stiller and production designer Jeremy Hindle chose a palette of “deep, earthy reds and rusts” for this artwork. This color scheme is strikingly different from the typical blue and green tones prevalent in the innies’ world. Miller notes that the introduction of Ricken’s book, “The You You Are,” in Season 1 marked the first instance of red appearing on the Severed floor, symbolizing the “spark of the revolution.”

The color palette also conveys a sense of renewal, with the sun creating a halo effect around Kier’s head, suggesting a transformative moment within Lumon’s narrative.

“It signals a new beginning,” Schlesinger states, emphasizing the significance of this visual representation.

Delve into Ms. Huang’s Water Toy Symbolism

In Episode 9, Mr. Milchick informs Ms. Huang that her Jame Eagan Wintertide Fellowship position has been unexpectedly terminated. Following this announcement, Ms. Huang is instructed to use a bust of Jame Eagan to ceremoniously destroy her water toy, symbolizing her departure from the fellowship.

The concept behind the ring toss water toy was to provide Ms. Huang with a playful distraction that aligns with her youthful spirit, despite her remarkable talents and skills. This childlike design serves as a stark contrast to the serious environment surrounding her.

The team decided to craft the toy to be mobile phone-sized, reflecting the Severed floor’s interpretation of childhood distractions, akin to contemporary youth being captivated by mobile devices, as Miller explains.

Given that water toys are rarely produced in such dimensions, the crew “fabricated this from scratch, modeling it after an actual water toy, but scaled up and decorated with the Lumon logo,” Miller states. Penko Platikanov, who is responsible for the show’s sculpted objects, intricately carved their own version of the Kier swimmer and painted each piece by hand, which was then integrated into the toy. “It was a successful endeavor, resulting in a delightful and functional piece,” she adds.

The artisans crafted a total of twelve toys, reserving two for future use. “We thoroughly smashed the remaining ten,” Miller reveals, highlighting the intentional destruction of the props for the scene.

Initially, they encountered challenges in achieving the desired effect of the plastic cracking. “We went back and created a round of inserts, where I was physically the one smashing it to ensure it would break appropriately,” Miller recounts, illustrating the hands-on approach of the production team.

The crew experimented with various designs for the toy, including one depicting Kier with a mohawk and another with an arm extended Statue of Liberty-style. Ultimately, “Ben was particularly fond of this diver in the vintage swimsuit featured in the water toy,” Miller shares, emphasizing the playful yet nostalgic nature of the design.

Uncover the Meaning Behind the Jame Eagan Wintertide Fellowship Bust

Ms. Huang’s bust, intricately carved from walnut and remarkably heavy, serves as a contemporary iteration of Cobel’s similar trophy that signifies her own fellowship experience. Each trophy uniquely reflects Jame Eagan’s age at the time of the award. “In Episode 8, when we see Cobel unveil the bust of her Wintertide Fellowship, Jame Eagan appears significantly younger—by about forty years,” Miller notes, pointing out the contrasting representations of time and achievement. (Platikanov also contributed to the creation of this bust.)

The “juxtaposition of the carved wood against the plastic” and “the symbolism of liquid bleeding onto the handkerchief laid beneath during the shattering” carries profound significance, Miller elaborates. This act serves not only as a visual spectacle but also as a representation of the emotional weight carried by the characters involved.

Examine the Iceberg Painting Featured in Milchick’s Office

As Milchick assumes control of the Severed floor, the former office space of Cobel undergoes a significant transformation. Schlesinger notes that actor Tramell Tillman’s mention of icebergs as a metaphor inspired the artisans to incorporate an iceberg painting prominently displayed behind his desk. The use of icebergs symbolizes the hidden depths of both the artwork and the narrative, mirroring the themes of “Severance.”

“Changing the wall color to blue and incorporating this small painting created a striking visual impact,” Schlesinger elaborates. “We ultimately went with a piece printed on metal, which we later discovered depicts an iceberg in Newfoundland, coincidentally the location where we filmed Episode 8.”

This artwork is created by Lisa Lebofsky. Schlesinger explains that they explored various sizes for the piece, ultimately determining that larger versions “dominated the space too much,” while the surrounding negative space enhances the overall effect of the piece.

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